Inviting young people to have fun and get involved in the work of California Wildlife Center (CWC)- dedicated to emergency rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured, abandoned or sick native wildlife and marine mammals. Learn how you can help our native wildlife!

WELCOME to CWC's Youth Wildlife Rescue Blog

CWC's Youth Wildlife Rescue Blog invites young people to have fun and get involved with the work of California Wildlife Center whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured, abandoned or sick native wildlife and marine mammals from the greater Los Angeles area. Come and get involved yourself or with your school and help our local wildlife. The Wildlife Center has taken in 19,000+ wild animals since its opening in 1998 and relies solely on public donations and grants. CWC is located in a quiet part of the Santa Monica mountains in Calabasas. Please visit our website at www.californiawildlifecenter.org for more information. We look forward to hearing from you on this blog!

The western grey was considered one of the most abundant mammals in the northwest in the 1920s, but by the 1930s an epidemic outbreak of mange decimated many populations in Washington. While the eastern grey and the eastern fox squirrels are capable of producing more offspring in times of abundance to compensate for population loss in lean times, the western grey appears unable to do so, thus limiting its ability to rebound from low populations. Additionally, unlike its eastern cousins, which breed twice a year, the western grey has one litter a year, with between three and five young per litter.They are shy squirrels, who are dependent upon older mixed forests with a variety of oak and pine or oak and fir trees with interconnected tree canopies for food, cover, nesting sites, and arboreal travel. These squirrels generally nest in the top third of larger trees, building leaf and twig nests called drays, which they line with lichen, moss and bark shavings. They often build more than one nest, and alternate among them.

Favorite foods are pine nuts, acorns, nuts, berries, fungi, green vegetation and insects. The animals are generally non-territorial, but show a dominance hierarchy at food sites.

Western grays are a federal Species of Concern, but are not listed as threatened or endangered. Oregon considers them a State Sensitive Species, and Washington state considers them State Threatened. They are still hunted in California and Oregon. Conservation groups in Washington state have petitioned the federal government to provide an emergency listing for this species. Only time will tell whether these efforts will be sufficient to preserve this squirrel.

These two little guys experienced a bad fall from their nest and were brought in for our help. Months later, they are being released back into the wild. Enjoy!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

This is Charlie, a baby Northern Elephant seal. He was rescued on March 25, 2011 when a concerned citizen, Erik Cooper, called us about him. He was at Leo Carillo beach and thought Charlie had died. We reassured him that elephant seals sleep very soundly and not to worry. We asked him if he could stay with the animal until we arrived to keep people and dogs away from him. He happily obliged and even helped us rescue him. We found Charlie to be very lethargic, underweight and dehydrated. Thanks to Erik, Charlie was rescued and transported to the Marine Mammal Care Center for rehab. The staff there took very good care of him and much to everyone's joy, Charlie was released back into the wild on July 13, 2011. He weighed a mere 75 lbs when rescued and a very healthy 198 lbs. when he was released! Have a great life Charlie!!!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

These are some of the patients we are rehabilitating now. The first is a screech owl. The Western Screech Owl is a small, nocturnal, woodland Owl of western North America and is one of the west's more common owls at lower elevations. They are squat-looking owls that sit erect, with their plumage fluffed out, with the feet and legs obscured, and distinct ear tufts raised. The iris is bright yellow and the bill is gray to black, with tufts of bristly feathers around its base. The facial disk is bordered by black. The toes are yellow. Feathers are either mainly grayish or reddish-brown variegated dark and light, resembling a furrowed tree bark pattern. They use the variegated plumage as camouflage. When threatened, the bird stretches its body and tightens its feathers in order to look like a branch stub to avoid detection, but will take flight when it knows it has been detected.

The second picture is a female mallard duck. She was rescued from a shopping mall in Valencia. Her right leg was fractured and caused her to limp. Dr. Tom was able to put a "walking boot" type splint on it and she is doing well.

The third group of birds is Western Scrub Jay babies. Western scrub-jays are common through the American West, from the California coast through Oregon, southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Texas, mostly in lowland areas with oak and pinyon pine trees. The birds easily adapt to urban and suburban areas and are popular visitors to backyard feeders. Western scrub-jays do not migrate.

The fourth picture is of kestrels. Perhaps the most colorful raptor in the world, the American Kestrel is the most common falcon in North America. It is found from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, and in towns as well as wild lands.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

We've been busy at the Wildlife Center! This little Guadalupe fur seal was very tiny when she was found. Her mom may have been chased into the water by people or dogs. When you see marine mammals on the beach, it's best not to approach them and call someone who can help them. Our hotline number 310-458-WILD.

Our baby skunk is making herself at home until she gets big enough for release. This is her cute end. You definitely wouldn't want to see the stinky end!

Our red-lored parrot, Meg was a victim of domestic violence. Her owners were charged with animal abuse. Our vet, Dr. Tom adopted her and brings her to the Center with him so we can all enjoy her.

This juvenile great horned owl is also doing very well. He's eating lots of mice!

This adult, female sea lion was rescued from Zuma beach. She was very skinny and didn't look like she was feeling very well. She also had an orange tag on her right, front flipper which means she has been in rehab before. The number on it told us she was released from the Care Center in Ft. MacArthur in November of 2010. We're hoping she does better this time around.

Last, but not least, this mama opossum and her five babies are getting ready to be released. By the time you read this, they will once again be free in the wild. This is the most rewarding part of our jobs at the Wildlife Center and a joy to witness!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

On January 3, 2011, the California Wildlife Center got a very interesting rescue call. A family living in a high rise apartment building in Santa Monica had noticed a large bat on the outside of their 14th story window screen. It had been there for a few days and they were worried something was wrong. They called CWC and a team responded and rescued it. It was a Big Free-tailed bat (nyctinomops macrotis). Our first at CWC!

Big free-tailed bats roost mainly in crevices and rocks in cliff situations, although there is some documentation of roosts in buildings, caves, and tree cavities. Their weight ranges from 25-30 grams (ours was 16g upon arrival) and they have a wingspan of 17-18 inches. They are a seasonal migrant and a powerful flyer. Their only known doucmented predator is the owl. They forage almost entirely on large moths, but some data exists to document occasional foraging on other insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, leafhoppers, stinkbugs and flying ants.

Our bat did very well and was released back into the wild in Orange County closer to his kind.

RELEASE ALERTS! Watch this space for upcoming release information

NEXT RELEASES

Our 5 rehabbed fawns were released in November, 3 at the California Wildlife Center and 2 in San Diego County. The videos are up in our Post section. Check them out!

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND AN ANIMAL THAT NEEDS HELP

DON'T TOUCH!The first rule, if you see an injured animal or bird, is not to go near or touch it. Immediately get an adult to help you. They can read our guidelines on how to help different birds and animals here. Or they can call :Emergency Hotline: 310-458-WILD(9453)OR CALL THE CWC HOSPITAL ON 818 591 9453

HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR NATIVE WILDLIFE

California Wildlife Center runs entirely on public donations, and needs your help to keep it's hospital and Baby Care Unit going.You can help by:- Being part of our youth fundraising team drawn from schools around the area. Contact rescuecwc@californiawildlifecenter.org if you are interested in getting involved.- Contributing items from our wish list, things the animals need to help their recovery. You can find them here (Baby care wish list)- Creating a fun event at your school or club to raise funds for CWC. Some ideas include holding a car wash, lemonade stands, organize a school-wide collection of needed items, picnic's, rummage sales, runs and walks.If you have an idea and want to get started, contact our youth Fundraising team on admin@cawildlife.org

Ducklings Ahoy!

These little ducklings have found a cosy spot on a gentle pair of hands to set them on their way after they became separated from their mother. Once they get older, and able to look after themselves, they will be taken back to where they were found, and released.